Top 2015 College Football Recruit Each Big 12 Coach Covets the Most

Big 12 coaches are no strangers when it comes to coveting recruits on the trail. All of them hustle around the country to get the best talent they can find.

This year will be no different, as it figures to be an interesting recruiting cycle in the league in the Midwest. Charlie Strong is now the head coach at Texas, and a 5-star cornerback is his primary recruiting target.

Kansas head coach Charlie Weis would love to pair a 4-star running back with a stud runner he signed last year, and Baylor's offensive-minded Art Briles is looking to add another weapon to his high-scoring unit.

Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia

West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen is a great offensive mind who is always thinking of ways to score points in the passing game.

However, his most coveted 2015 prospect is 4-star running back Larry Scott. An Ohio native, Scott is 6'0" and 205 pounds. He combines great speed and strength, and he projects to be a bell-cow running back in college.

Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech

With head coach Kliff Kingsbury being a former quarterback at the school himself, Texas Tech is sure to invest a lot in the position.

Kingsbury is in a rare position of already boasting a commitment from his most coveted recruit, who happens to be, you guessed it, a quarterback. Jarrett Stidham is a 5-star passer from Texas who can also hurt defenses with his legs.

At 6'3.5" and 190 pounds, Stidham has a strong arm and outstanding athleticism for the position. He will flourish under Kingsbury's guidance.

Charlie Strong, Texas

Texas' defense should become a strong unit under new head coach Charlie Strong, as his expertise is on that side of the ball.

With Strong looking to build to a dominant defense, it should come as no surprise that his top target is a defensive recruit. The Longhorns must do all they can to sign 5-star cornerback Kendall Sheffield, a 5'11", 180-pounder who could develop into a special player in a few years.

Although he is just 5'9" and 173 pounds, Newsome has sizzling speed and quickness. The Texan is electric with the ball in his hands, and Patterson knows he would add some serious firepower to the Horned Frogs' offense.

Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State is known for its potent offense and ability to score points. That's because head coach Mike Gundy is a former quarterback for the Cowboys who loves lighting up scoreboards.

Gundy's most coveted recruit this year is 4-star running back Ronald Jones II, who decided to take Gundy up on his offer earlier this month. At 6'0" and 185 pounds, Jones has terrific speed and elusiveness. He skates through creases and puts a ton of pressure on defenses.

Bob Stoops, Oklahoma

Talented offensive linemen are never turned away by Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops. With 5-star blocker Jalin Barnettbeing inside his state this year, Stoops will all over him until the end.

Barnett is a 6'4", 315-pound bully who pushes people around in the trenches. He has good quickness to get out of his stance at the snap, but Barnett's strength and power are his top assets as a player.

Kansas State, Bill Snyder

Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder loves to dip into the JUCO ranks for prospects, but his most coveted recruit this year is a high school player.

Ryan Willis is a 3-star quarterback whose father, Steve, played for the Wildcats in the early 1980s, according to Randy Withers of Scout.com. At 6'4" and 195 pounds, Willis has good size and arm strength to make many different types of throws.

He could be a cornerstone player for Kansas State in the future.

Withers wrote in 2013, "Ryan's father, Steve Willis, played for former head coach Jim Dickey. He was a kicker on the 1982 Independence Bowl squad, K-State's first-ever to become bowl eligible."

Charlie Weis, Kansas

Kansas head coach Charlie Weis signed 4-star running back Traevohn Wrench in 2014, and now he would love to pair Wrench with 4-star 2015 running back Tyreik Gray.

Gray, who is 5'11" and 187 pounds, is a quicker-than-fast runner who has excellent burst. He shows a knack for slashing through alleys with good force, plus he can dodge defenders by making sharp cuts. The Texan would form a great duo with Wrench.

Paul Rhoads, Iowa State

South Dakota doesn't produce a ton of talent, but it is home to 4-star offensive tackle Grant Schmidt. At 6'6" and 275 pounds, Schmidt is a deceptively athletic blocker who works with a lot of toughness and intelligence.

He has good technique, as well as a sharp punch when engaging targets. Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads would be wise to stay on Schmidt's trail for as long as he can.

Art Briles, Baylor

Baylor head coach Art Briles runs a high-scoring spread offense, so he'll always be after receivers. Among the best in the country this year happens to be 5-star pass-catcher Damarkus Lodge, who hails from Texas.

Lodge has solid speed, but he displays even better hands and ball skills. The 6'2.5", 190-pounder has the strength to work his way through jams at the line, plus he comes out of his breaks quicker than anticipated by defenders.

Edwin Weathersby is the College Football Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. He has worked in scouting/player personnel departments for three professional football teams, including the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns.